“To show the UK public what happened in the village of Pungesti, this Sunday we will re-enact the crimes of Chevron and the Romanian Police in Trafalgar Square where our volunteers will stage a mock arrest showing how it feels like to be abused by the Romanian authorities. Some protesters will be dressed as police and some will be the local villagers. Please join us this Sunday and help us spread the word that Human rights have to be obeyed in Romania. More details of our protest here …:”

Just a few days ago, on the 2nd December a local community that are opposing fracking in the village of Pungesti came under attack by Police and Chevron employees. The security forces dismantle the local resistance group camped outside the field where Chevron plans to explore for shale gas. After 2 months of resistance, 40 people were beaten, arrested on their own land and taken to the nearest town for further investigations. Even today, while the fracking drill is constructed locals are not allowed to access their own lands in the vicinity of the drill and a national road is open only to Chevron vehicles.

The proposed exploratory wells for shale gas which Chevron are trying to install in Pungesti and other areas in Romania are not covered in their exploration licence. They hold a licence for ‘petroleum’ exploration. Romanian legislation currently does not regulate shale gas and in addition, no consultation or parliamentary debate has taken place in regard to non-conventional fossil fuels. These activities are endorsed by the government while the Ministry of the Environment and Climate change is committing to bilateral agreements to green growth – one of the reasons for Mrs. Rovana Plumb’s visit to London.

This abusive intervention is without precedent in democratic Romania. It is an irresponsible, dangerous attack on human and civil rights, as recognized worldwide. A petition has now been launched and in two days it has collected over 24,500 signatures, calling to “Stop Chevron and police abuse in Pungesti”. This document will be sent shortly to the European Parliament, the European Commission, and human rights organizations.

To show the UK public what happened in Pungesti, this Sunday we will re-enact the crimes of Chevron and the Police in Trafalgar Square where our volunteers will show how it feels like to be abused by the Romanian authorities.

Even to this day, the area resembles what could be described as Martial Law, with children unable to get to school, people questioned indiscriminately and locals unable to reach own private land. Please join our theatrical re-enactment scene this Sunday and help us spread the word that Human rights have to be obeyed in Romania.